Happy Fourth! And now....a question...

[tabaqui]

Hello. Yes, another ficless update! Aren't i cool.

Anyway - Cat and i were talking and Cat was wondering something and now i'm wondering it so...

If you are from the UK, is there some lingering...national sentiment that sure, they've got James Marsters and Supernatural and 31 Flavors but...that should all be *ours! ours!!* those rat bastards?

I personally cannot conceive of such a thing but...does such a sentiment exist anywhere? When Bollywood tosses out hottie singing guys in eyeliner and chicks who are just so curvey and perfect is there a smoldering *grrrrr* anywhere?

Idle curiousity, folks. I think the answers are gonna be fun. If i get any.

And hey - now's your chance to tell me *every tiny thing* about America that bugs the crap out of you!

*just for the record, i despise The Shrub*
*so you'll be preachin' to the choir on *that* subject*

In other news? Deadwood!!!
OMFGILUFFIT!!!
*smoooches killerweasel*

Comments

[taruma16.livejournal.com]

America The country, the whole continent is beautiful! Many lovely countrysides!

bugs the crap out of you! You mean other things than George W. Bush?

You know, it's funny the people I met here at LJ are so great. Very different from the view I have/had outside.

[moimoietmoi.livejournal.com]

I've often had the feeling that (some) Americans consider there's America and The Rest of The World. Like we're one big mass of something somewhere that is not America and they're above what happens in The Rest of The World. It feels a bit pretentious and stupid, but I know that not every American thinks that way.
And I'm really glad I got to meet intelligent, open-minded Americans through lj and I had the chance to travel in the US. It helps get past the stereotypes. :)

[tabaqui]

Yes, so pretty! If only those annoying *people* would go away...

*sporks the Shrub*

I don't think i came into LJ with any preconceived notions about people from 'other' places... I guess i thought there might be a little America-hating *my gods, with our govt and some of the gap-toothed inbreds around, how could there *not* be??* but...

People are people.
:)

[taruma16.livejournal.com]

People are people.
Oh yes!

I think it always depends on how you grow up, with what views about the world.
Idiots live all over the world!

[kate-fire.livejournal.com]

Bugs the crap out of me?

Lack of TimTams. OMG, where ARE the TimTams?? We import practically everything BUT TimTams! I have to travel 4 hours to get to the nearest TimTam store.

...I think painful stupidity is everywhere, right? Is it just in America that we revel in it? Examples: Paris Hilton, reality Tv, the distressing number of people who travel to Alaska and then ask if they are south of Texas?

Everyone loves dumb tourist questions, right? Lord, do I have a lot of them!

...written down, I mean. Yeah, that's it. From other people.

[ruric.livejournal.com]

Dude - no!

We don't want you back - we wouldn't have you back even if you asked nicely.

You threw our tea in the harbour.

Tea! I say again - TEA! You know how much the the brown nectar means to the Brits.

*scowls*

Moreover you all show a lamentable inability to use the letter "u" where it should be correctly deployed. I mean really, what is the world coming to?

(snorfles

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

I worry about the American education system, and the degree of influence the religious right has over it - I get the feeling that Americans must, on average, be more gullible than Europeans, because of this kind of thing. Plus, the recitation every morning - I hope we are not going that way in the UK.
And I agree with most of what moimoietmoi said. A lot of the people I've met on LJ have been great, but then, LJ does have a greater leftist tendency than the general population, according to some poll I read.
So I think, while I envy you guys the space, the cheap housing, and the scenery, I am glad I was born in the UK. I think I would have been even more of an outsider in the US than I was here.
And James Marsters is mine! Mine I say!

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

I'm not quite sure I get what you're talking about. Is Cat asking whether there's still an empire sentiment active in the UK? I.e., do people here think that the US, or Bollywood, should still be "Property Of" the Great British Empire? If so - I'm reasonably sure the answer is no.

The English are more concerned these days with the effects of their former empire-building coming home to roost. They colonized India, and now the national pub dinner is no longer steak-and-kidney pie, it's curry and chips. If you go to get a baked potato from the cafeteria, topping options include baked beans or chicken tikka masala. India, Pakistan and particularly Australia routinely beat them at cricket. They are concerned about high levels of immigration, but hello? They went, occupied all these places, acted superior and told everyone how Britain was the best place in the world to live, and now they're surprised that people followed them home? :)

The Scots have broken free and the Irish are an ongoing problem. Canada refused to join Tony Blair and (*spork*) Bush Jr. in the "War on Terror". The UK has major social problems including alcoholism, massive increase in drugs and gun crime, and the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe - but they still have this apparently unshakeable sense of superiority. (Hmm. There's a certain similarity to America here. Where did the colonists come from again, hmm? :)

By and large, folks here don't much like the US, because the perception is that the US doesn't know, or want to know, about the rest of the world. Any time I've been in the US for a conference or something, and turned on the TV? It's all local/national, almost nothing about the rest of the world - and if there is something, it's through a highly filtered, highly biased US perspective. I was there when the German elections were going on some time back - I had to wait til I got home to find out who won. Maybe the US media will cover Canadian elections. Maybe.

I'm Canadian - now living in UK - and again, the general disregard for the rest of the world *and us* is what pisses us off. The arrogance. Take the softwood lumber dispute. The US has been ruled against multiple times by the terms of NAFTA and by world courts, and their response? Ignore it. Hey, what's Canada gonna do? Stop selling lumber? Attack the US? Tell Bryan Adams, Mike Myers, Wayne Gretzky, Shania Twain and Celine Dion to come home? *snerk*

/rant

I like a lot of people I've met in the US. In fact, I like almost everyone I've ever actually met who's American. Maybe that's because I meet/interact with the Americans who travel, who are interested in world politics, and who write slash *g*, whereas those who voted for Bush tend not to cross my path. So, it's not all negative? *questioning smile*

Happy Indepence Day!

[tabaqui]

Oh, yes. Some even consider that there's 'their town' and then there's the rest of the world. Very odd.

[tabaqui]

Heeeee.
Um. What's a TimTam?

And yis, painful stupidity seems to be the...*height* of a lot of America. Painful and embarassing if i do say so myself.

Dumb tourist questions! Oh, fun!
:)

[tabaqui]

*snerk*

It's true. We despise your tea!! We add lemon, sugar, and raspberry flavoring!!!

U's are the worms of the alphabet.
*ptooy*!!
:)

[tabaqui]

Dude, i worry about it too. American's are utter morons in some respects. Perfectly happy about stuff and then one doorknob stands up and mutters something about 'god' and 'the children' and suddenly everybody's a screaming bible-thumper. Sheesh.

Which recitation do you mean? The Pledge? I've explained to my daughter how the 'under god' part was added by opportunistic....individuals. Heh.

Can't we just....share?
*cough*

[tabaqui]

Yeah, the empire sentiment is what we both meant and yeah - i think that arrogance is a bit genetic.
*cough*

I dislike intensely the 'amercia is an island' *i know, i know* attitude. It's annoying in the extreme to have to *work* to find international news that isn't filtered through a 'aren't we cool and don't these furriners suck!' lens. Probaby because we *are* an island with only two boreders that we feel so...

Lofty, i guess. Or safe to ignore what's going on in the world.

It will bite us in the ass, oh yes.
*sporks my govt*
*sporks The Shrub extra hard*

[nasty-shrew.livejournal.com]

honestly? I think most Brits are kind all "thank God we left, look how embaressing it would have been if we were counted responsible for the yanks!".

;)

What annoys me about America? The lack of Walkers crisps. Seriously, people, you have no idea of the crispy goodness that you are missing. Oh, and another thing? The fact that in America you call crisps 'chips' and you call chips 'french fries'. Or is it now 'freedom fries'? :)

I love America. Some of the sweetest, funniest people I've ever met hailed from the US of A. Yourself included. *smooch* Happy independence day!


... *cough*JamesmaybeyoursbutJudeisours*cough*.

[tabaqui]

And ninety damn percent of 'em are in politics or on tv.
Sheesh.

[yourlibrarian]

I'm glad to see you posting. I was just thinking the other day I hadn't seen one from you in a while and was wondering if everything's back to normal post-surgery.

As to the U.S., well, where to start?
They went, occupied all these places, acted superior and told everyone how Britain was the best place in the world to live, and now they're surprised that people followed them home? :)

I thought the comment was just as applicable to us, albeit with less occupation and almost as much meddling (historically). Our current immigration argument is somewhat ludicrous to my mind. We act as if the U.S. is the only country in the world, brag constantly about how great we are and then are surprised that some people actually believe that. (I do think though, that a lot fewer believe it now than did 20 years ago). I like my life here, I generally enjoy living in the U.S. But then if I'd grown up somewhere else I'd probably enjoy that place too and its benefits. Every country has its pluses and minuses.

What annoys me is how very self-centered most Americans are, literally in some cases, but also as a group. We make a big deal of our nation's generosity in times of crisis but then we have a lot to be generous with. Our news media tends to portray other countries as either pits of despair who we should pity, or evil competitors who are out to destroy our way of life. There is rarely a middle ground, although GB is the one most likely to be potrayed as one to be taken somewhat seriously, when they're not being charming eccentrics that is.

I don't expect that everyone be a political wonk (I'm certainly not) but is it too much to ask that people have some idea of what's going on outside of some celebrity's womb? I will say this much for Bush's administration -- for anyone paying attention the historical hypocrisy our gov't has been engaged in regarding our motivations in national and international affairs has been laid pretty bare.

[realtsunamigirl.livejournal.com]

As a Canadian, I'm just pleased that the 54'40 or bust sentiment seems to have mostly passed for the time being. I don't care if they belong to the UK or not, what I care about is whether they think we belong to them.

I've got your Manifest Destiny right here buddy.

However I have seen American pundits on TV making jokes about just taking over Canada and making it the 51st state, which is beyond ridiculous from a simple practical standpoint. (Go on, I dare ya, try to morph all the provincial governments into one. I'll be sitting by with popcorn.)

The thing that makes me nervous is that the sentiment seems to be that there is no point because we are basically the same culture anyway.

As someone who used to work at a call centre that was entirely American incoming calls, take it from me:

Americans and Canadians:

Are. Not. The. Same.

If you want some reasons how this is the case, check out my Canada day post here.

Hey look, there's a streetsign, I'm on tangent boulevard. How nice;-D

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

Oh hey. I'm plenty arrogant at times. *g* (But then, I was only second-generation Canadian - grandparents British. Hmm. :)

The UK often has similar attitudes about "Johnny Foreigner", but they can't ignore the outside world in terms of news etc., especially given the degree they're integrated into the European Union (though there's lots of low-level, and some high-level, grumbling about that too.) It's been interesting to listen to the World Cup coverage, for instance, and earlier in the year, the EuroVision song contest - getting an idea of their views of other nations.

I'm afraid of the extent to which the foretold US-ass-biting/kicking will cause havoc in the rest of the world. It won't be confined to America - nor will the response, obviously.

That's an interesting thought, the being an almost-island. I hadn't really thought about that before. Canada is similar - and we don't even share a northern border, really - but I guess the much smaller population, later and incomplete split from England, and bilingualism/multiculturalism policies may have contributed to the different view of the world. America's just so...big. Geographically, population-wise, economically. Idealistically. There's a big difference in the New World and Old World mindsets that took me a while to cotton onto here, and I still don't really get all the ramifications, but it has a lot to do with ambition, social classes, and the whole American Dream thing.

Oh, and if you'll permit, I forgot to mention in my first comment:

Health. Care.

*flails*

[tabaqui]

Yes, to all of that, particularly the health care *omg*.

I wonder...i think because you really had to *want* it to come over here at first, you know? YOu had to save and scrimp and suffer and leave *everything* behind and start over in this incredibly vast and scary place and so the people that were over here were just...

A different mindset. One that was happy to throw off kings and churches and things. There weren't many places left in the 'old world' that were as raw or as unlawful.
:)
*i'm so glad people are replying! This is fun*

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

Yiss!!!

And if you really want to piss off the English, you can pretend you think they're Welsh. Or Scottish. And then say, "Well, it's all the same, really, isn't it?"

(Ditto Germany/Austria. Ditto France/Belgium. Ditto practically any neighbouring countries in this intensely feudal community of Europe. :)

Oh God. I'd like to see the Americans try and invade Quebec. No, really, I would. Or PEI. "Uh, sir, we've occupied Green Gables, but the enemy keep hiding in the lupins." Or Winnipeg in January. "We tried to fire on them, sir, but the triggers froze, and then my tongue got stuck..."

Um. It's really hot and we've been drinking Finnish currant wine in the backyard, and I'm in a crazy mood but have no wish to offend anybody, American, Canadian, or otherwise. :)

[tabaqui]

Manifest Destiny makes me cringe, to be honest.

And i loved your Canada Day post. It was fun *and telling*.
:)

Yeah, i think people think - oh, Canadians! Just like us only they say 'eh' and play hockey!

Weird we don't think of Mexicans that way. It's like Mexico is some third-world place with half-savage freaks or something. Totally bizzare.

I wouldn't mind if Canada just slipped down and invaded. Free health care for all!!
:)

[tabaqui]

Yeah, i've been lax on the posting front - i'm a lamer!!

Heh. Yes, the immigration debacle over here is ridiculous. Makes me grind my teeth. Sheesh! People just aren't using their heads.

And our govt., hypocritical?? Say it ain't so!!

I just wanna spork 'em all.

The scary part, re - self centered, is that they're like that on a *statewide* scale, too. I know so many people who live in their little town and the rest of the state is like - foreign soil. It's *weird*. That sort of insular thinking is so not good.

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

YES.

And the people who came, came because they wanted a better life. For them, and particularly for their children. They want their children to do bigger and better things, to have more chances, to get more education, to own more stuff. They sacrifice so their kids can get out of the slums and move on up in the world.

I do not speak for the whole of the UK (or any of it for that matter! this is all me!) but I do live in a rather gritty area where I think a different mentality prevails. Here - if you're trying to be more than those around you, more than your parents, there's resentment. There's the attitude that, "Working in the factory was good enough for my dad, and for his dad, and it's good enough for me, and it's damn well good enough for my kid!" It's like, if you choose to pursue more, you're making negative judgments on your roots. Trying to rise above your social station isn't popular here, and those around will try to pull you down to their level.

The class system is still very much present, albeit less officially, and more to do with money these days. I live in an area where most people are working-class, and damn proud of it, and wouldn't want to be "educated, stuck-up, toffee-nosed poncy bastards". Yet, although they may scoff, they'll treat doctors, lawyers, architects etc. with a certain awe. My next-door-neighbour-but-one practically doffs his cap to them.

[tabaqui]

Heeeeeeeee!!
Yeah. God's knows, *i'm* embarassed on a regular basis by my fellow Americans. Sheesh.

Ummmm - i have never, nor will never, use the term 'Freedom Fries'. Talk about embarassing idiocy! Sheesh.

Nothing wrong with *chips*. Crisps just sounds - weird! They're not lettuce!! They're....chips!!
*snarfles Cheeto's which aren't chips *or* crisps*

*smooooooooch* to you, too! Thank you!

[tabaqui]

*snerk*

That's all i've got.
:)